Most people have never been present when someone dies and do not know what to do. This guide tells you exactly what happens and what you need to do, step by step.
What do I do in the first moments?
You do not need to do anything immediately. You are allowed to sit with the person, grieve, and take whatever time you need before making calls. There is no legal requirement to act within minutes or hours.
If there was a palliative care team involved, they will have prepared you for this moment. Refer to whatever guidance they provided. They can be called at any hour.
If there are others in the house, particularly children, take a moment to decide how to include them before making calls. There is no rush.
Who should I call first?
If the death was expected and there was a palliative care team involved, call them first. They can attend to confirm the death, provide support, and guide you through the next steps. Many palliative care services have 24-hour lines for exactly this situation.
If there was no palliative care involvement, call the person's GP. If the GP is unavailable outside hours, call a locum or after-hours GP service. Most states have access to healthdirect (healthdirect.gov.au, 1800 022 222), a 24-hour nurse-on-call line that can advise you on next steps when you are not sure who to call.
Do not call emergency services (000) unless the death was sudden, unexpected, or unattended and you do not know the cause. If police or an ambulance attends an expected death, it can trigger a coronial process that you and the family may not need. When in doubt, call the GP or palliative care team first and ask.
What happens during the doctor's visit and death certification?
A doctor must certify the death before the funeral can proceed. When they attend, they will examine the person and complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). This is a formal document that goes to the funeral director and the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry. You do not receive a copy of it.
If the doctor attended the person in the months before the death, this process is usually straightforward. They will be familiar with the person's condition and can complete the certificate without difficulty.
If no doctor was closely involved in the person's care, the GP may need to refer the case to the coroner before the certificate is issued. This is more common than people realise and does not indicate anything wrong.
What happens if the death was sudden or unexpected?
If the death was unexpected, including situations where the cause is not immediately known, call 000. Police will attend alongside paramedics. This is a legal requirement and does not reflect any suspicion of wrongdoing.
The coroner may be notified in these cases. A coronial investigation simply means an authorised person confirms the cause of death. It can take longer than a straightforward expected death, but the funeral home will advise on timing.
If the death occurred under palliative care but outside the expected timeframe, call the palliative care team first. They will advise whether coronial notification is required.
When and how do I call the funeral home?
Once the doctor has attended and completed the paperwork, you can call the funeral home to arrange collection of the person. There is no requirement to do this immediately. You can take several hours, or longer, if you need time with your family.
The funeral director will ask for the person's name, location, date of birth, and any specific wishes about how the body is to be cared for. They will handle everything from collection onwards.
If you have not yet chosen a funeral home, you have a little time. You do not have to use the first one you find. See our guide on choosing a funeral home for what to look for.
What paperwork should I be aware of?
The main document you need to know about is the death certificate, which is separate from the MCCD completed by the doctor. The death certificate is the official government document you will use to notify banks, superannuation funds, Centrelink, and other organisations.
The funeral director handles the registration of the death. Once registered, you can order certified copies of the death certificate. Order more than you think you need, typically six to ten copies, as many organisations require an original and will not return it.
See the death certificates guide for more detail on how many to order and what each one is used for.
How do I look after myself and others in the house after a death?
The hours after a death at home can feel very long. People may come and go. You may feel numb, or you may feel everything at once. Both are normal.
Ask someone you trust to be with you if you can. Practical tasks, calls, and decisions can wait. The only things that genuinely cannot wait are calling the palliative care team or GP, and eventually calling the funeral home. Everything else can be done over the coming days.
If there are children in the house, include them in age-appropriate ways. Children cope better when they are told the truth simply and given small, manageable roles rather than being shielded from everything.
If you need support in the days ahead, Griefline (griefline.org.au) and Lifeline (13 11 14) are available around the clock.
Platform tools
- Your checklistEvery task across all five stages of the journey, gathered in one place so nothing is forgotten.
- Document vaultStore the will, power of attorney, advance care directive, and other important documents securely in your account. Available to members.
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Pierre started 18December after his partner Mark was given a terminal diagnosis, when they mapped out everything that needed to happen at the kitchen table. He reviews the guides to keep them honest, plain, and genuinely useful. About 18December
Published 12 June 2026
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